EP0266839A1 - Process for concentrating a urea solution and installation for carrying out the process - Google Patents

Process for concentrating a urea solution and installation for carrying out the process Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0266839A1
EP0266839A1 EP87202109A EP87202109A EP0266839A1 EP 0266839 A1 EP0266839 A1 EP 0266839A1 EP 87202109 A EP87202109 A EP 87202109A EP 87202109 A EP87202109 A EP 87202109A EP 0266839 A1 EP0266839 A1 EP 0266839A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tubes
gas mixture
heating area
urea solution
apertures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP87202109A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Kees Jonckers
Henk Christiaan Burks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Stamicarbon BV
Original Assignee
Stamicarbon BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Stamicarbon BV filed Critical Stamicarbon BV
Publication of EP0266839A1 publication Critical patent/EP0266839A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C273/00—Preparation of urea or its derivatives, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups
    • C07C273/02—Preparation of urea or its derivatives, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups of urea, its salts, complexes or addition compounds
    • C07C273/04—Preparation of urea or its derivatives, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups of urea, its salts, complexes or addition compounds from carbon dioxide and ammonia
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C273/00—Preparation of urea or its derivatives, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups
    • C07C273/02—Preparation of urea or its derivatives, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups of urea, its salts, complexes or addition compounds
    • C07C273/14—Separation; Purification; Stabilisation; Use of additives
    • C07C273/16—Separation; Purification
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D1/00—Evaporating
    • B01D1/06—Evaporators with vertical tubes
    • B01D1/065—Evaporators with vertical tubes by film evaporating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F13/00—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing
    • F28F13/04—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by preventing the formation of continuous films of condensate on heat-exchange surfaces, e.g. by promoting droplet formation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a process for concentrating a urea solution by evaporation of water from the urea solution.
  • the invention also relates to an installation for carrying out this process.
  • urea synthesis solution containing carbamate and free ammonia is first formed in the synthesis zone.
  • the carbamate is decomposed into ammonia and carbon dioxide and the decomposition products are removed from the solution in a number of steps, together with part of the ammonia and water present in the solution.
  • a urea solution in water is ultimately obtained which contains approximately 70-75 % by weight of urea and in which ammonia and carbon dioxide are still present.
  • This solution is not suitable for fertilization purposes or application in the manufacture of resins. As a rule, it must first be processed to form solid urea.
  • urea solutions are usually evaporated under reduced pressure to avoid excessively high evaporation temperatures.
  • the evaporation process is mostly carried out in two or more steps, in which most of the water present is removed at a moderately reduced pressure in the first step(s), upon which the evaporation is continued under a much lower pressure in the last step until a urea melt is obtained that is practically free from water, containing less than 0.5 % by weight of water.
  • so-called vertical-one-pass evaporators are mostly used for this process, in which the solution and the obtained vapour are fed upwards through the tubes of a vertical bundle of tubes, the heat required for the evaporation being supplied by condensation of low-pressure steam in the shell space provided around the tube bundle.
  • the heat required in the first evaporation step is obtained by condensation of the gas mixture obtained at a pressure of 4-40 bar in the second decomposition step. If the dew point of the gas mixture is increased, for instance by adding the aqueous carbamate solution formed in the third decomposition step to the condensing gas mixture, so that the condensation commences at a higher temperature, the released absorption and condensation heat is obtained at such a temperature level that, if the heat exchange is carried out counter-currently, a urea solution with a concentration of, fo r example, approx. 95% by weight and a temperature of, for example, approx. 130 ⁇ C, depending on the pressure applied in the tubes of the evaporator, can be discharged from the first evaporation step.
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a procedure for the evaporation of a urea solution and an installation for applying the process, in which use is made of the heat that can be generated from process flows as described in EP-A-145.054, in which the above disadvantages are avoided.
  • This aim is achieved according to the invention when the gas mixture to be condensed is passed countercurrently to the urea solution to be concentrated upwards through the heating area, which heating area is designed as a submerged condenser in which the flow profile of the gas mixture and the condensate formed more or less corresponds to the flow profile of a so-called plug flow, in which no back-mixing of the ongoing flow with the reagents in the heating zone occurs.
  • the invention therefore relates to a process for concentrating a urea solution by evaporation of water therefrom, in which process the urea solution is passed as a film along the inside of the tubes of a vertical bundle of tubes and the heat required for the evaporation of water is generated substantially by condensation of a gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O in a heating area provided around the bundle of tubes, in which the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O is supplied to the heating area near one end of the tubes of the tube bundle and the urea solution is supplied to the other end of the tube bundle.
  • the process is characterized in that the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O is fed substantially upwards through the heating area and it is ensured that the gas mixture or condensate cannot flow back.
  • aqueous carbamate solution is added to the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O in the heating area, since this increases the dew point of the gas mixture, as a result of which condensation commences at a higher temperature level.
  • the aqueous carbamate solution is preferably supplied to the heating area at a point situated between the supply of urea solution to the tubes of the tube bundle and the supply of the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O to the heating zone.
  • Backmixing of the reaction mixture can be prevented by applying a number of perforated horizontal baffles in the heating area to divide the latter into compartments situated one above the other, while choosing the feed rate of the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O relative to the flow area to be such that a gas cushion is formed at the top of each compartment, from which the gas flows through the apertures into the above compartments where it will exert such a pressure on the liquid present near the apertures that the liquid is prevented from flowing back through the apertures.
  • the presence of the gas cushion makes it possible, when special measures are taken, to pass the gas mixture con-taining NH3, CO2 and H2O and the condensate separately, through different apertures in the baffles, to the compartments above.
  • the invention also provides an installation for applying the above process.
  • This installation consists of a vertical bundle of tubes surrounded by a heating area and is provided with means to allow the urea solution to flow as a film in downward direction along the inside of the tubes of the tube bundle.
  • the installation is ch aracterized in that the heating area is divided, by means of perforated horizontal baffles, into compartments situated one above the other and in that there are supply and discharge lines to pass the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O and the condensate substantially upwards through the compartments.
  • the number and location of the apertures in the baffles at least corresponds to the number and location of the tubes in the tube bundle. If the number and the locations of the apertures in the baffles correspond to the number and the location of the tubes in the bundle of tubes, the reagents will flow from one compartment into the next-higher compartment exclusively through the gaps remaining upon installation of the tubes of the tube bundle through the apertures in the baffles as a result of the tolerance of the apertures. As a rule, a larger flow area will be required between the compartments if the flow through the heating area required for an efficient heat exchange with the urea solution to be evaporated is to be realized. In that case the baffles are to be provided with additional apertures.
  • the baffles are provided with a first group of apertures through which at least the tubes of the tube bundle extend and a second group of apertures which are applied alternately in the centre and near the circumference of the baffle. If only the apertures of the second group are provided with a rim projecting downwards, the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O will flow into the higher compartments at least substantially through the gaps around the tubes of the tube bundle. The condensate will flow alternately through the apertures in the centre and those near the circumference.
  • the process according to the invention can be suitably applied to urea processes involving a decomposition step in the pressure range of 4-40 bar, since the absorption and condensation heat obtained in condensation, with the help of a carbamate solution, in the mentioned pressure range of the gas mixture obtained in this decomposition step as a rule has such a temperature level that a urea solution of approximately 70 % by weight can be concentrated to approximately 95 % by weight.
  • the bottom part of the heating area is a steam jacket. This will be done preferably if the gas mixture resulting from the decomposition step operated at 4-40 bar becomes available at a relatively low pressure, for example 4-12 bar, or if the urea solution from the first evaporation step is required to be carried off at a temperature of at least 130 ⁇ C.
  • the figure gives a schematic cross section of part of the heating area showing two baffles and one tube of the tube bundle.
  • the outer shell of the heating area is indicated by 1, a tube of the tube bundle by 2, the baffles by 3, the central aperture by 4, the apertures near the circumference by 5, the rims projecting downwards by 6 and the gas cushions by 7.
  • the liquid phase flows in the direction indicated by arrows 8 and the gas phase flows in the direction indicated by arrows 9.
  • the urea solution to be concentrated is supplied as a film running down the the inside of the tubes 2.
  • Urea is prepared according to the embodiment as schematically represented in the figure in EP-A-145.054, with the understanding that the first evaporation step indicated in this figure by number 12 is designed and operated in the manner described in the present invention.
  • the heating area around the tubes is divided into ten compartments by means of baffles.
  • the baffles have apertures applied alternately in the centre and near the circumference which are provided with a rim projecting downwards and through which an upward flow of the liquid phase through the compartments is realized.
  • the gas mixture containing NH3, CO2 and H2O flows to the successive, higher compartments via the gaps between the tubes and the baffles.
  • extra apertures for the gas flow have been applied, in decreasing numbers, between the tubes in the successive baffles.
  • the following data relate to an installation with a capacity of 1500 tonnes per day. The amounts are indicated in kg per hour.
  • 35,414 kg of NH3 and 45,863 kg of CO2 are fed to the high pressure part of the installation.
  • the pressure in this high pressure part comprising a synthesis zone, a first decomposition step, a condensation zone and a scrubbing zone for the inert gases, amounts to 140 bar.
  • the pressure in a second decomposition step and in the heating area of the first evaporation step amounts to 17.7 bar.
  • the pressure in a third decomposition step is 3.9 bar.
  • a gas mixture from the second decomposition step containing 14,139 kg of CO2, 8,711 kg of NH3 and 3,301 kg of H2O, is supplied to the bottom compartment of the heating zone surrounding the bundle of tubes.
  • this gas mixture is 158.6 ⁇ C, its dew point being 143.4 ⁇ C.
  • this mixture By subjecting this mixture to heat exchange with 86,623 kg of the urea solution flowing down the tubes as a film, which is supplied at a temperature of 95 ⁇ C and contains 63,525 kg of urea, 210 kg of biuret, 28 kg of CO2, 377 kg of NH3 and for the rest water, this gas mixture is cooled and condensed.
  • the condensation and absorption of the gas mixture is continued with the help of 20,944 kg of carbamate solution resulting from the third decomposition step, containing 4,294 kg of CO2, 7400 kg of NH3, 9,229 kg of H2O and 21 kg of urea, which is supplied to the third compartment of the heating area at a temperature of 47 ⁇ C. 47,079 kg of a carbamate solution with a temperature of 93.7 ⁇ C and containing 18,427 kg of CO2, 16,102 kg of NH3, 12,529 kg of H2O and 21 kg of urea is discharged from the top compartment of the heating area.
  • 45 kg of a gas mixture still containing 6.3 kg of CO2, 9.1 kg of NH3, 0.8 kg of H2O and for the rest inert gas is discharged from this compartment.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)
  • Fertilizers (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Liquids With Adsorbents In General (AREA)
EP87202109A 1986-11-03 1987-11-02 Process for concentrating a urea solution and installation for carrying out the process Ceased EP0266839A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL8602769A NL8602769A (nl) 1986-11-03 1986-11-03 Werkwijze voor het concentreren van een ureumoplossing en inrichting voor het uitvoeren van de werkwijze.
NL8602769 1986-11-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0266839A1 true EP0266839A1 (en) 1988-05-11

Family

ID=19848768

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87202109A Ceased EP0266839A1 (en) 1986-11-03 1987-11-02 Process for concentrating a urea solution and installation for carrying out the process

Country Status (29)

Country Link
US (1) US4866207A (no)
EP (1) EP0266839A1 (no)
JP (1) JPS63126858A (no)
KR (1) KR880006176A (no)
CN (1) CN1022321C (no)
AR (1) AR245383A1 (no)
AU (1) AU604069B2 (no)
BG (1) BG60206B2 (no)
BR (1) BR8705824A (no)
CA (1) CA1333912C (no)
DD (1) DD262806A5 (no)
EG (1) EG18504A (no)
FI (1) FI874808A (no)
HU (1) HUT44949A (no)
IL (1) IL84340A0 (no)
IN (1) IN170336B (no)
MA (1) MA21099A1 (no)
MX (1) MX168831B (no)
NL (1) NL8602769A (no)
NO (1) NO874558L (no)
NZ (1) NZ222369A (no)
OA (1) OA08770A (no)
PL (1) PL268572A1 (no)
PT (1) PT86068A (no)
SU (1) SU1736335A3 (no)
TN (1) TNSN87125A1 (no)
TR (1) TR24027A (no)
ZA (1) ZA878213B (no)
ZW (1) ZW19987A1 (no)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7098266B2 (en) 1999-12-16 2006-08-29 Basf Aktiengesellschaft Polyarylethersulphone and polyamide-based thermoplastic mouldable masses with improved processing characteristics

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH679485A5 (no) * 1989-12-29 1992-02-28 Ammonia Casale Sa
DE4034074A1 (de) * 1990-10-26 1992-04-30 Huels Chemische Werke Ag Verfahren zur herstellung von alkylglycosiden und alkyloligoglycosiden
EP2153880A1 (en) * 2008-07-31 2010-02-17 Urea Casale S.A. Process and plant for the production of a urea solution for use in SCR process for reduction of Nox
BR112014026866B1 (pt) 2012-05-03 2020-09-24 Stamicarbon B.V. Processo e aparelho para a produção de ureia a partir de amônia e dióxido de carbono
CN109070043B (zh) 2016-05-03 2019-12-06 斯塔米卡邦有限公司 在控制缩二脲的情况下的尿素生产

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE908028C (de) * 1948-11-03 1954-04-01 Hoechst Ag Verfahren und Saeule fuer Stoffumsatz und Waermeaustauscher
FR1111540A (fr) * 1954-07-19 1956-03-01 échangeur thermique permettant l'utilisation pratique de l'énergie de dilution des solutions concentrées
US2944966A (en) * 1954-02-19 1960-07-12 Allen G Eickmeyer Method for separation of fluid mixtures
FR1255949A (fr) * 1959-11-12 1961-03-17 Procédé et dispositifs de distillation par évaporation moléculaire à multiple effet
US2998060A (en) * 1960-08-03 1961-08-29 Albert W Eckstrom High temperature method and evaporator for concentrating solutions
EP0145054A2 (en) * 1983-11-13 1985-06-19 Stamicarbon B.V. Process for preparing urea

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3137725A (en) * 1960-02-11 1964-06-16 Chemical Construction Corp Heat recovery in urea synthesis process
SU144842A1 (ru) * 1960-10-25 1961-11-30 Б.Г. Мельников Способ удалени аммиака и углекислого газа из продуктов синтеза мочевины
NL6414630A (no) * 1964-12-16 1966-06-17
US4341640A (en) * 1976-09-27 1982-07-27 Standard Oil Company Urea hydrolysis
US4231951A (en) * 1978-02-08 1980-11-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Complex salt photoinitiator
JPS5573651A (en) * 1978-11-30 1980-06-03 Toyo Eng Corp Preparation of urea
JPS5826909B2 (ja) * 1979-09-14 1983-06-06 東洋エンジニアリング株式会社 尿素水溶液の濃縮方法
JPS5750954A (en) * 1980-09-12 1982-03-25 Mitsui Toatsu Chem Inc Synthesis of urea
IT1163795B (it) * 1983-07-18 1987-04-08 Montedison Spa Apparecchio per lo strippaggio dell'ammoniaca dalle soluzioni provenienti dalla sintesi dell'urea
EP0180704B1 (fr) * 1984-05-19 1988-10-12 Ammonia Casale S.A. Procédé perfectionné pour la production de l'urée
JPH06110547A (ja) * 1992-09-29 1994-04-22 Toshiba Corp シーケンス実績データ収集装置

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE908028C (de) * 1948-11-03 1954-04-01 Hoechst Ag Verfahren und Saeule fuer Stoffumsatz und Waermeaustauscher
US2944966A (en) * 1954-02-19 1960-07-12 Allen G Eickmeyer Method for separation of fluid mixtures
FR1111540A (fr) * 1954-07-19 1956-03-01 échangeur thermique permettant l'utilisation pratique de l'énergie de dilution des solutions concentrées
FR1255949A (fr) * 1959-11-12 1961-03-17 Procédé et dispositifs de distillation par évaporation moléculaire à multiple effet
US2998060A (en) * 1960-08-03 1961-08-29 Albert W Eckstrom High temperature method and evaporator for concentrating solutions
EP0145054A2 (en) * 1983-11-13 1985-06-19 Stamicarbon B.V. Process for preparing urea

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7098266B2 (en) 1999-12-16 2006-08-29 Basf Aktiengesellschaft Polyarylethersulphone and polyamide-based thermoplastic mouldable masses with improved processing characteristics

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EG18504A (en) 1993-04-30
US4866207A (en) 1989-09-12
MA21099A1 (fr) 1988-07-01
IL84340A0 (en) 1988-04-29
NL8602769A (nl) 1988-06-01
NZ222369A (en) 1990-06-26
AU604069B2 (en) 1990-12-06
CN1022321C (zh) 1993-10-06
CN87107625A (zh) 1988-05-11
MX168831B (es) 1993-06-10
CA1333912C (en) 1995-01-10
ZA878213B (en) 1988-04-28
SU1736335A3 (ru) 1992-05-23
NO874558D0 (no) 1987-11-02
IN170336B (no) 1992-03-14
FI874808A (fi) 1988-05-04
TR24027A (tr) 1991-02-04
ZW19987A1 (en) 1988-02-03
JPS63126858A (ja) 1988-05-30
BG60206B2 (bg) 1993-12-30
NO874558L (no) 1988-05-04
PT86068A (pt) 1988-12-15
AU8058287A (en) 1988-05-05
DD262806A5 (de) 1988-12-14
BR8705824A (pt) 1988-06-28
OA08770A (en) 1989-03-31
KR880006176A (ko) 1988-07-21
PL268572A1 (en) 1988-09-01
AR245383A1 (es) 1994-01-31
FI874808A0 (fi) 1987-11-02
HUT44949A (en) 1988-05-30
TNSN87125A1 (fr) 1990-01-01

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